Alcaraz Beats Medvedev to Reach Vienna Open Final

Carlos Alcaraz beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4 7-6(2) on Saturday to reach his first Vienna Open final. The second seed won the semi-final in 96 minutes at the Wiener Stadthalle, and he will meet either top seed Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur in the final on Sunday.

The win took Alcaraz to his 37th tour-level final and his fifth final of the year. It also stretched his winning run at ATP 500 events to 25 matches, while ending a seven-match winning run for Medvedev.

Vienna Open final: how Alcaraz beat Medvedev

Alcaraz took the first set after Medvedev double-faulted to hand him a set point. The Russian then fought back hard in the second set and held firm to force a tiebreak. Neither man could gain a clear edge in the early part of the breaker, but Alcaraz attacked with a run of powerful groundstrokes to close it out 7-2.

Reuters reported that the result gave Alcaraz a measure of revenge for his defeat by Medvedev in the Indian Wells semi-finals in March. That loss had been his first defeat of the season. The head-to-head record now stands at seven wins for Alcaraz from 10 meetings, with five of those wins coming in their last six matches.

Medvedev had arrived in Vienna in strong form, and his seven-match run had made him a threat on an indoor court. Alcaraz said after the match that beating Medvedev indoors, after the run he had been on, felt like a strong result. He added that he was happy to have the chance to play another final, and his first in Vienna.

What the win means for the season run-in

Both Alcaraz and Medvedev have already qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals next month. Alcaraz is one of four men to have secured a place at the event, and his Vienna run keeps his late-season form on track.

The ATP 500 streak matters because it shows how steady Alcaraz has been at this level all year. Twenty-five straight wins at ATP 500 events is a long run in a part of the calendar where the fields are deep and the matches come thick and fast. A title in Vienna would add to that record and give him fresh momentum for the Finals.

For Medvedev, the defeat ends a promising stretch but does not change his place at the Finals. He pushed Alcaraz hard in the second set and forced a tiebreak, which showed that the gap between the two men on an indoor court is narrow.

Feature Pakistan reported on Zverev reaching the Vienna semi-finals and on Alcaraz and Zverev winning through earlier in the Vienna week.

What happens next

The second semi-final will decide who faces Alcaraz in Sunday’s final. Zverev, who beat Arthur Fery 6-0 6-2 in his quarter-final, was due to meet De Minaur for the other place in the decider. Zverev is also in line to replace injured Jannik Sinner at the top of the men’s rankings on Monday, which adds another layer to his semi-final.

Alcaraz will start the final as the favourite on the strength of his Vienna week and his ATP 500 record. Whoever comes through the second semi-final will have to find a way past a player who has now won 25 straight matches at this level.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score in the Alcaraz Medvedev Vienna semi-final?

Alcaraz beat Medvedev 6-4 7-6(2) in 96 minutes at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Saturday.

Who will Alcaraz play in the Vienna Open final?

Alcaraz will play either top seed Alexander Zverev or Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final on Sunday.

How many ATP finals has Alcaraz reached?

The Vienna final is the 37th tour-level final of his career and his fifth final of the year.

What is Alcaraz’s ATP 500 winning streak?

Alcaraz has now won 25 straight matches at ATP 500 events, while Medvedev’s seven-match winning run came to an end.